The Best Albums of 2013

Genre: Indie Rock, Dance Rock, Post-Disco, Art Rock

This Canadian indie rock band delivers a post disco double album (two discs) that shows improvement on their sound, style, and lyrical content. Starting off as a baroque pop band in 2005, Reflektor finds Arcade Fire at an evident stylistic change. From the dizzying synths, to the arena style guitars, to the dance ready (sometimes ethnic) percussion, Arcade Fire gives a new musical chapter in their discography along with some astounding production from former LCD Soundsystem front-man James Murphy. The New Wave/Punk attitude of “We Exist” and the bass on “Joan of Arc” remain a constant reminder as to why Arcade Fire is a great band that is always trying to take things up a level.  Don’t be surprised to find your head bobbing once the album starts, and don’t be surprised when you can’t stop either.

FAV TRACKS: Reflektor, We Exist, Here Comes The Night Time, Normal Person, Afterlife

Genre: Disco, Electronic, Funk

Just when we thought Daft Punk had disappeared from the face of the Earth, we suddenly “got lucky” with their return. The iconic French dance duo returns to their roots and delivers some new tunes influenced by 70s funk and disco music. They then seamlessly fuse their classic dance ready tunes with nostalgic disco, keeping the songs modern. Along with notable guest stars Giorgio Moroder, Julian Casablancas, and Paul Williams, Daft Punk demonstrates a stylistic change with a dance record that will trump dance records for years to come.

“Get Lucky” revives disco music, while “Fragments of Time” reminds us of 70s funk, showing a deep appreciation for that decade of music. While every aspect of the album takes us on a journey through music before our time, Daft Punk transcribes it for modern era, a modern audience. It is definitely an achievement that we rarely see and one that we can all say is worth the laborious undertaking.

FAV TRACKS: Give Life Back To Music, Giorgio By Moroder, Lose Yourself To Dance (feat. Pharrell and Nile Rogers), Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell and Nile Rogers), Fragments of Time (feat. Todd Edwards), Doin’ It Right (feat. Panda Bear)

Genre: Indie Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Garage Rock

It’s been nearly ten years since the Arctic Monkeys released their groundbreaking, seminal garage-rock debut Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, an album that was met with universal praise and cemented the Monkeys in the UK music scene. With AM, the band shows no signs of stopping or evolving as their fast and brash punk tunes are replaced with groove heavy, Velvet Underground and R&B influenced rock. The songs are best listened to while driving on long, dark roads at midnight or while loitering in hazy bars at three in the morning. With crooning vocals, catchy riffs, grooving bass arrangements and subdued drumming, the Monkeys convey a softer and mature side complete with tight jeans, slicked-back hair and glam rock swagger.

The opening riff of “Do I Wanna Know?” never leaves your head, while the haunting lyricism of “I Wanna Be Yours” serves as a moody and sentimental closer. Here, they unleash a sound that works for them amidst their artistic discovery, a stepping stone for the ever growing group. Although it isn’t quite as exciting or unexpected as their previous works,  AM it stays interesting enough as an album to be kept around and listened to every once in a while. The long road ahead never seemed more bearable or cool.

FAV TRACKS: Do I Wanna Know, R U Mine?, One For The Road, Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?, Snap Out Of It

Genre: Indie Pop, Soft Rock

Now if you’re longing for some nostalgia to relive the glory days of Fleetwood Mac or John Waite, then this is the album for you. These three sisters from the San Fernando Valley in sunny California deliver an album that revives the vintage atmosphere of 70s soft rock mixed in a melting pot with indie pop and modern musical arrangements. From the choppy beat of “My Song 5” to the catchy chorus of “The Wire,” these sisters consistently remind us how our influences affect modern music.

Every song, every little pluck of the guitar, every bell and whistle on this album remains faithful to the solid foundation they grew up with, increasing their musical integrity with breezy confidence and pride.

FAV TRACKS: The Wire, If I Could Change Your Mind, Don’t Save Me, My Song 5

Genre: Indie Folk, Indie Rock, Folk Rock

Jake Bugg really had a remarkable upbringing, as seen by his musical technique. By fusing the styles of Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Oasis, Don McLean and Neil Young, 19-year-old Jake Bugg delivers a debut album that not only makes a grand entrance for the aspiring singer/songwriter, but also takes every listener back to the glory days of his or her influences. With nasally-styled vocals similar to those of Bob Dylan and rock swagger similar to that of Johnny Cash, Bugg clearly displays himself as an amalgamation of every artist that ever revolutionized music, consistently demonstrating an appreciation for the classics. From the galloping romp of “Lightning Bolt” to the wrenching intimacy of “Broken” to the eloquent grace of “Two Fingers,” Bugg’s debut is one for the history books.

FAV TRACKS: Lightning Bolt, Two Fingers, Taste It, Seen It All, Simple As This, Country Song, Broken, Trouble Town, Slide

Genre: Ambient, Microhouse, Psychedelic Electronic Rock

I always look for albums that go beyond their expectations, and Psychic is an album that does just that. Chilean electronic producer Nicholas Jaar  and his touring guitarist Dave Harrington delve deep into the genre of house music and instill elements of rock, funk and ambiance deep within. Here, 70’s funk style guitar leads prod the delicate electronic atmosphere into different shapes and sounds, never really retaining a solid shape but always taking the melody to extraterrestrial heights. The grooving stomp of “The Only Shrine I’ve Seen” will surely keep listeners engaged as they stir up the track, frequently bringing in new elements with the song’s progression. Psychedelic synths swirl around, drum machines linger in the air, and heavy bass arrangements back up the ever changing sound: an organic, progressive and intriguing experience that fails to attain a proper adjective to describe.

FAV TRACKS: Paper Trails, The Only Shrine I’ve Seen, Freak, Go Home, Metatron

Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Baroque Pop

A few years ago, a small band made up of four students from Columbia University took a risk and fused African drum beats with sugary indie pop. The result? 2008’s Vampire Weekend,  an album that was as ambitious and cheerful as the band itself. However, like most undergrads, they grew up and so did their music. On this third album of theirs the playfulness is no longer present, instead replaced by darker, morose themes of religion, heartache, death, and belonging. But above all this the theme of growing up abides over all. From the grimy track “Diane Young”  (Get it? Diane Young. Dyin’ Young?) to the gut wrenching agony of “Hannah Hunt” to the innocent prose of “Ya Hey,” the band clearly displays problems adjusting to the world by painting a bleak and dark perspective of it all, just as the cover art illustrates.

Yet underneath this darkness is hope; the band is maturing, evident from the guiding advice on “Obvious Bicycle” and the shining light in “Unbelievers,” a track that works both as a final farewell from the band and as a statement of doubt. But with flutes, lush instrumentation, and triumphant choruses, Vampire Weekend turns the finale of their adolescence into something new entirely, the birth of a new era in their lives. For once, it even feels heartwarming and welcoming.

FAV TRACKS: Obvious Bicycle, Unbelievers, Step, Diane Young, Hannah Hunt, Everlasting Arms, Hudson

Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, Alternative Rock

Now here’s an album that will really make your head spin. Josh Homme and crew come back after a six year hiatus with an album that is filled with catchy hooks and riffs, diverse instrumentation, ridiculously impressive drumming, an energy that never stops, and rhythms that groove more than John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. From the choppy beat of “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” to the falsetto of Josh Homme on “The Vampyre of Time and Memory” to the brutal pounding of instruments in “Fairweather Friends,” Queens of the Stone Age show no signs of mercy or stopping. The band does include two slow tracks led by a piano, which gives the listeners a momentary break, but then, they bring in the drums and psychedelic riffs. This balances the tracks just as the volume of the track is shot up through the ceiling. The production remains excellent as it perfectly encapsulates every little detail and note within the ten song album, making the six year wait worth every second.

FAV TRACKS: ALL OF THEM

Genre: Black Metal, Post Rock, Shoegaze

One might look at the pink album cover of Sunbather and mistake it for a synth pop album; however, to everyone’s surprise, it’s actually a black metal album. Sunbather has to be the least accessible album on this list, yet it remains one of my all time favorites. The San Francisco band delivers a monstrous record with heavily distorted riffs, intense blast beats, and an atmosphere that burns with rage and passion. However, unlike most black metal albums, this one incorporates post rock/ambient interludes that give the fierce tracks some air and space to reflect. Complete with lead singer George Clarke’s boiling screams, Deafheaven delivers tracks that consistently change courses.

From the nine minute opener “Dream House” to the fourteen minute long opus “Vertigo,” each track remains interesting and engaging despite abnormal lengths. It may be a spot to try to hear on first listen, but the lyrics reveal some emotional inner thoughts: “I’m dying/Is it blissful?/It’s like a dream/”I want to dream,” a beautiful poetic soliloquy that tackles themes of desire and pleasure, not just violent screaming about negative aspects of life. From the dexterity of drummer Daniel Tracy to the precise echoes of tremolo from guitarist Kerry McCoy, this album gives a new perspective to black metal musicians. Here, they actually display feeling and emotion, proving they aren’t as angry as their vehement screeches suggest. With lush production, flawless composition, and cathartic climaxes, Deafheaven delivers a modern classic in the music world, one listeners will be talking about for years.

FAV TRACKS: Dream House, Irresistible, Sunbather, Vertigo, The Pecan Tree

Genre: Industrial Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Experimental Hip Hop

Talk about a change in musical style; Kanye West completely turned heads with this controversial album back in June. Fans accustomed to his past classic and ambitious albums like Late Registration or Graduation most likely cried in disbelief upon hearing the heavily distorted synths of “On Sight.” Following its release, all hope for the album’s success completely disintegrated, as many dismissed the album’s style. However, as time went on, West’s magic took its toll as the whole endeavor suddenly coalesced, and West’s visionary outlook was brought out into the light. No one can deny the egotistical and arrogant personality of Mr. West, for even on an album full of crude and vulgar allusions, he still manages to rant about his personal life, race, wealth, and culture. Musically, West moves forward with his style, counteracting the mainstream culture and pushing his fans and his music to the sonic limits, to the point of almost pushing them away. Drums thunder the atmosphere of “Black Skinhead” while distorted horns blare out on “Blood On The Leaves,” illustrating a high level of ambition as West continues to push himself, while still managing to astound the world of Hip Hop.

This album is ferocious, cruel, merciless, and heavily distorted, but aside from the rough patches, it’s an album that I find myself coming back to every now and then. It may be difficult to listen to or even understand, but in the end that’s hip hop—isn’t it? It takes you by surprise and sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard or experienced before. Overall, Yeezus remains a magnificent record that 2013 will be remembered for. What we have here is an artist risking everything and trying something new with his music, and wholeheartedly “nailing it” in the process.

FAV TRACKS: Black Skinhead, New Slaves, Hold My Liquor, Blood On The Leaves, Guilt Trip, Bound 2

Alas, 2013 was indeed a great year for music, with many artists pushing their stylistic limits as well as introducing new artists, whose sound remains unparalleled to those before them. We will have to wait and see what 2014 has to offer, but 2013 will be a tough year to beat.